What is going on? Just when we think we have an understanding on things, something else comes up and we are back to this perplexing place of questioning and unsettledness. It is a "God" thing. The pressure is on and changes must be made. We are brought again and again to a place of choice. Do we choose to adjust our lives and mindsets to God's order, or do we resist these changes and try and find comfort in the familiar ways of life we have known, yet are being shaken as well? Nothing and no one seems to be exempt from these trying times.

It Leads to Hope

While in the U.K., I had a dream about hope. In this dream, I was in a house that was not my own, and a family was in the house that I didn't recognize. At the breakfast table, a well-known prophet was sitting there. I walked in the house, but I was covered with dirt from working outside. This prophet stood up to hug me and I quickly resisted the embrace because of the dirt. I knew in the dream that the dirt was because of hard work and not because of sin.

I asked the prophet what was going on, and his response was, "It results in hope." At that moment he handed me a Scripture, but I couldn't remember what it was. When I got up, I researched the Scriptures containing the word hope, and I found the one I felt he gave me in the dream. It is Romans 5:1-6:

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."

If we understand why we are going through what we are going through, then we have strength and courage to go through it. God is taking us through a time of refining and purifying to prove our character and give us hope. As the Church, we must become strong in character, living in the hope of God that does not disappoint.

The Absence of Hope Results in Hopelessness

We have the strength of God to draw from in these troubled times, but the unsaved world is becoming increasingly hopeless. People are searching, and God is raising up men and women to shine in very dark times, proclaiming truth and displaying His power and love. We are being prepared to advance forward, unhindered, and give a message of hope and refuge in times of trouble when men's hearts would fail them for fear. It's a process that brings about proven results. Tribulation results in perseverance or endurance. Endurance is the ability to exert ourselves for a long period of time and is a key character trait we often neglect.

Hebrews 10:36 says, "For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise."

Endurance Is The Key To Receiving The Promise

So often we "jump ship" when things get hard. We often criticize what we don't understand and make rash decisions that further delay the work in our lives. God is after something in us. He wants to perfect our character and walk with Him so our walk will not be shaken when the winds and waves hit our house.

Endurance produces proven character and proven character is moral and ethical strength that is noticed by others. It is a mind-and heart-resolve that will not yield to wrongdoing even when no one is looking. It is a built-in attribute that defines us; and proven character is a life stone that attracts God's favor and anointing. This attribute produces hope that does not disappoint.

Learning to Cast Our Care

The word "cast" literally means to "throw with force." As we walk through these difficult times, we must learn to cast our care on Him because He cares for us. There are things we are asked to deal with and there are things that are out of our hands to "fix." If we don't have the ability to "fix" something, then we must release it to the Lord and let Him take care of it. If we are weighed down with the cares of this life, we will fall under the pressure. Our hope and strength come from God, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. This dependency on God must be established in these days.

Jesus told us to take His yoke on us and we would find rest for our souls. In Matthew 11:29-30, Jesus said, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

In this place of learning to separate ourselves from things too heavy for us, we realize that we really are partakers of a Divine nature-that Jesus lives in us and is for us. He is causing us to become strong and weak at the same time. He is with us in trouble to deliver us from it, and He is making sure His face is the focal point of our lives and vision.

There is Hope in Our Future

"Thus says the LORD: Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the LORD, that your children shall come back to their own border."-Jeremiah 31:16-17

We have hope. Hope is defined as a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in our lives. God is rewarding us for the work we have done and the work we will do. He is involved in our lives and our children's lives. The one's we have been praying for will come back from the land of the enemy. Satan has no hold on our kids whom God has promised to deliver back to us and their borders and destinies. THERE IS HOPE IN OUR FUTURE. At the end, three things are left...faith, hope and love.

Let's not get discouraged, but let us be encouraged that this process will result in hope and we will see God's promises fulfilled in our lives. We can do this thing. Let's encourage each other and get God's perspective on this, and we'll all experience this victory together.

Bless ya,